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AAP, Congress activists hold protest at Takht Damdama Sahib as Badals return to Punjab
Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal, Bathinda Lok Sabha MP and former minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal return to Punjab for the first time after Parliament passed the agriculture bills last week
Ahead of the visit of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal and Bathinda Lok Sabha MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal to Takht Damdama Sahib in Talwandi Sabo on Thursday afternoon, their political opponents gathered near the historic gurdwara.
Wearing black aprons, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) legislators Baljinder Kaur and Rupinder Kaur are camping near Khanda Chowk at Talwandi.
Baljinder Kaur said the Akalis have hurt the feelings of the farmers by being party to the central government’s farm bills.
“As the entire farming and trading community is up against the Centre on the bills, the Akalis indulged in political gains. They supported the bill openly but the widespread protest by farmers forced them to oppose the bills superficially. The Akalis are still partners of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and their dual political role has been exposed,” she said.
Sukhbir and Harsimrat will return to Punjab for the first time after Parliament passed the agriculture bills last week.
The SAD has announced a statewide chakka jam (road blockade) on September 25 to protest against the bills.
While Akali supporters were present in large numbers at the Talwandi Sabo gurdwara, Congress activists gathered there too to oppose the SAD leaders.
Several of them were carrying placards opposing the BJP and the Akalis for their “anti-farmer” stand.
